Valve-gear.



No. 866,623. 'l v PATENTED SEPT. 24, 19o?.

w". H. COLLIER.

VALVE GEAR. APYLIUATIOH FILED JAN. 8, 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1 No. 866,623. I PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

W. H. GOLLIER.`

VALVE GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1906.

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No. 866,623. PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

' W. H. COLLIER. l

VALVE GEAR.

APPLICATION rxLED JAN. 3,1906.

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No. 8665623. PATENTBD SEPT. 24, 1907, W. H. COLLIER.

VALVE GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. s, 190s.

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WILLIAM H. COLLIER, OF JACKSON, TENNESSEE.

VALVE-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed January 8, 1906. Serial No. 295,082.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. COLLIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Madison and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Gear, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in valve gear for steam and air engines, compressors, pumps, etc., and comprises improvements over the valve gear described in my Patents Numbers 814,275, dated March 6, 1906, and 823,105, dated June 12, 1906, particularly adapting such valve gear for air and gas compressors, blowing engines, pumps etc.

The objects of my invention, are, to improve and simplify the valve gear of steam engines, compressors, pumps etc., to obtain the efficient operation of the drop cutoff valve gear without the excessive limitation of speed characteristic of such valve gear, to improve and simplify automatic governing mechanism of engines, compressors, pumps and the like, to cause the fluid pressure against which a compressor, pumpvor the like operates to control directly the operation of the valve gear, and in general to make the valve gea-r simple, compact, economical, highly efficient, and reliable.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating certain applications of my invention, and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the said drawings, Figures 1 8 inclusive show a form of fiuid-pressure-operated valve gear embodying my invention and particularly applicable to the compression cylinders of compressors, Fig. 1 showing a side view of a portion of a compression cylinder fitted with my improved valve gear, Fig. 2 showing the same Valve gear looking from the front or crank end of the engine backward, Fig. 3 showing a central longitudinal section of the pilot or controlling valve chamber andY of the valve-actuating cylinders, the section being taken on a horizontal plane, and Fig. 4 showing a verti- Cal transverse section of the same parts. Fig. 5 shows a vertical axial section through the pilot valve.. Fig. 6 shows a development of this pilot valve. Figs. 7 and 8 show respectively, a side view and a top view of the compressor, the motor cylinder and associated parts being omitted. Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the application of my invention to the motor or driving sides of pumps, etc., Fig. 9 showing a top view of the cylinders of a pump, the casing of the pilot valve of the motor cylinder being shown in section, and Fig. 10 being a detail view showing means for retracting the pilot valve of Fig. 9.

Valve gear of the type towhich this invention relates comprise fluid-pressure-actuated means, such as cylinders and pistons, for operating the admission and exhaust or discharge valves of a working or compres- Sion or pumping cylinder, and a controlling or pilot7 valve controlling the operation of such fiuid-pressure actuated means, such controlling valve being by preference a rotary valve driven from the crank shaft or other suitable rotary member of the engine. By suitable arrangement of ports in the controlling valve and its chamber, and by arranging said valve to move longitudinally in Aits chamber as well as to rotate, the operation of the engine may be regulated independent of any throttle valve ;4 as for example, by varying the points of cutoff and exhaust closine. In the valve gear herein described I employ a controlling valve which is, by preference, a rotary valve, and I cause the pressure or head,against which the compressor or pump works to move the controlling Valve longitudinally in the valve chamber, and thereby control the operation of the compressor or pump, and also open the discharge valves of the compressor when the compression pressure reaches that of the receiver.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, A, (Figs. 3, 4 and 5), designates the main section or casing of the valve gear, It contains the valve chamber for the controlling or pilot valve H, and is preferably secured to the side of engine or compression cylinder, 1, as shown. To said member A are secured the cylinders for actuating the valves of such cylinder 1, there being four such actuating cylinders in the case of a four-valve engine. The cylinder 1 shown in Figs. l and 2 is assumed to be the compression cylinder of an air or gas compressor or the like.

B and B2 designate the actuating cylinders, and D and D2 the pistons, for actuating the delivery valves F and F/ of the compressor, and C and C2 designate the actuating cylinders, and E and E2 the pistons, for actuating the suction or admission valves F2 and F2 of the compressor, the piston rods of said pistons being connected to the arms of their' respective valves by links G.

Controlling valve H is hollow, as shown especially in Figs. 4 and 5. It has a xed stem, H2, and is caused to rotate by a gear wheel I, connected to stem H2 by means of a key working in a keyway I2 in H2, said gear wheel being driven by a bevel pinion on shaft I3, said shaft being driven by suitable gearing 2, from the crank shaft 3 or other suitable revolving member of the engine, the gearing being of such ratio that the valve I-I rotates at the same speed as the crank shaft.

Beneath the valve H there is an exhaust passage, Q, connected to the chamber within which valve H rotates by suitable ports, as hereinafter described. The ends of valve H are closed, and both ends ofthe cha-mber within which the valve rotates are closed, means being provided for admitting fluid under pressure to such valve chamber, at opposite ends of the valve, for moving said valve longitudinally, as hereinafter described. A spring K acting on said `valve serves to compensate for the portion of the outer head of the valve occupied by the stem H2, and also to keep the 'circumferentially extending valve in its extreme innermost position when there is no pressure acting against the inner head of the valve.

Fluid under pressure, such as steam or compressed air, is admitted to the interior of the valve, for operating the pistons of cylinders B, B2, G, G2, by means of a pipe L, (Figs. 2 and 5), in registry with a groove L2 (Figs. 3 and 5) in valve H, said groove connected to the interior of valve H by a port L3. Each of the actuating cylinders is provided with admission and exhaust ports for both of its ends leading to the chamber in which valve H revolves, and adapted to register with ports in said valve at suitable intervals during the revolution of the valve. The admission ports of these cylinders are designated by characters M and N (for cylinder B), M2 and N2 (for cylinder B2), M4 and N4 (for cylinder C), and M3 and N3 (for cylinder C2). The exhaust ports of these cylinders are designated by characters O and P (for cylinder B), O2 and P2 (for cylinder B2), O4 and P4 (for cylinder C), and O3 and P3 (foi cylinder C2).

The inner end of the chamber within which valve H rotates is connected by pipes T3 and T2 to opposite ends of compression cylinder l, and the outer end of said chamber is connected by pipe T to the receiver or some suitable part ofthe system maintained at receiver pressure. Therefore, in operation, the valve is subjected at one end to receiver pressure, and at the other end to the pressure in that end of the cylinder l in which compression is being effected. A projection Y on valve H acts as a valve to connect to the chamber of valve H only the pipe T2 or T3 of that end of the cylinder in which compression is being conducted.

Valve H has the following ports, extending through to its inside chamber, lor admitting working iiuid to the valve-actuating cylinders: S2 and R, on opposite sides ol the valve, for ports M and M2 respectively; S and S6, on opposite sides of the valve, for ports N and N2 respectively; R5 and S7, on opposite sides of the valve, ier ports M4 and M3 respectively; and S5 and R3, on opposite sides of the valve, ior ports N4 and N3 respectively. Valve H has also in its surface the following grooved ports or cavities, not extending through to the interior of the valve, constituting exhaust ports and serving to connect the exhaust ports of the actuating cylinders to exhaust passage Q (such passage Q being connected to the valve chamber by four ports, a', x2.r3, and x4): S2 and S2, for cylinder ports O and O2 respectively; R7 and R2, for cylinder ports P and P2 respectively; R2 and R4, for cylinder ports O4 and O3 respectively; and R4, and Ss, for cylinder ports P4 and P3 respectively. Exhaust port x4 registers at suitable times with cylinder ports S2 and S9; port r3 with cylinder ports R7 and R2; R8 and R4 with ft2; and R4, and S8 with x. Valve ports S2, S2, S and SG are not merely longitudinal slots, as are the remaining ports, but have portions extending through such arcs that outward motion of the valve in any angular position thereof during the compression period in either end of cylinder 1 will bring one of each pair oi these ports into registry with the corresponding cylinder port.

The operation of the valve gear is as follows: In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 3, (assuming that inward movement of the actuating pistons closes the corresponding valves of cylinder 1 and that outward movement of said piston opens said valves), both discharge valves F and F operated respectively by pistens D and D2 are closed and the admission valve F2 (controlled by piston E) is open, and the compressor is compressing into the front or crank end of cylinder l, one end of the valve H being subjected to pressure in this end of nthe cylinder, the mouth of pipe T3 being open, the pressure in the other end ol the valve chamber being that of the receiver, (such receiver pressure being transmitted through pipe T). When compression pressure exceeds receiver pressure, valve H is forced outward, until the circumferential portions of ports S6 and SLJ register with cylinder ports N2 and O2, whereupon piston D2 of discharge valve F/ moves outward, opening discharge valve Ff, and so causing the compressor to discharge into the receiver, the pressures acting against the two ends of valve H being equalized at the end of the stroke, so that valve H moves inward again when port T2 is opened by valve-projection y. At the end of the stroke, piston E is caused to move inward and to close valve F2, by ports R5 and RG ofthe valve opening steam and exhaust ports M4 P4 respectively, and piston E2 controlling valve F2/ is moved outward and valve F2/ opened owing to ports Rv3 and RA, of valve H opening steam and exhaust ports N3 and O3 respectively', and at the same time ports R and R2 of the valve open ports M2 and P2, causing piston D2 to move inward and close discharge valve F. Fluid is then compressed into the rear end of cylinder 1, and

when pressure in such end exceeds receiver pressure, valve H moves out as before, until the circumferential portions of ports S and S2 register with ports N and O, respectively, when piston D moves outward, opening discharge 'valve F. This operation continues in the manner described until the pressure in the receiver, acting against the front end of valve H, moves the same inward against weight U2 (Fig. 2) mounted upon the lever U connected to valve stem H2 through collar J2. Valve H then moves inward, beyond its normal position, its ports being of such length longitudinally that while ports S3, R, R7, R2, S5, R3, R8 and R4 will still register with their respective cylinder ports during the rotation of valve H, ports S2, S2, S, S5, R5, R6 and S8 will no longer register with their respective cylinder ports, so that the discharge valves F and F/ will be closed and cannot be opened again, and the admission valves F2 and F2/ will be opened and cannot be closed again, until, the pressure in the receiver falling, weight U2 moves the valve out again, whereupon the normal operation of the valves will be resumed. This closing of the discharge valves, and opening of the admission valves, whereby the compressor piston moves idly, is termed unloading the compressor.

Obviously the invention as above described, and involving, essentially, the idea oi a pilot or actuating valve controlling the valve-actuating pistons, but arranged to be moved longitudinally by fluid-pressure to vary the action of the valves, is not confined to the compression cylinders of compressors, blowing engines, and other pumps, but is applicable as well to the valve gear of motor cylinders. ln Figs. 9 and lO l illustrate valve gear for the motor or driving cylinder of a pump, comprising a pilot valve H, valve-actuating cylinders B and B2 for the admission valves oi said cylinder, and similar valve-actuating cylinders C and G2 or the eX- haust valves oi said motor cylinder, said pilot valve actuated in one direction by a Weight U2, and arranged to be actuated in the other direction, in opposition to such Weight, by fluid under the pressure of the head against Which the pumping cylinder' Works, such pressure being conveyed through pipe T.

What I claim s:

1. In valve gear, the combination with a plurality or' iiuid-pressure-actuated valve-operating means, of a control ling valve for the same having' ports adapted to register with ports of said valve-operating means, means for driving said controlling' valve, and {luid-pressure means for shifting said valve in a direction other than that. of its normal motion, said valve comprising means whereby when the valve is so moved in a direction other than that of its normal motion, the operation el said tluid-pressureactuated valve-operating means is varied.

2. In valve gear, the combination with a plurality et' tluid-pressureactuated valve-operating means, et' a controlling valve for the same having ports adapted to register' with ports of said valve-operating means, said valve arranged to be driven normally in one direction and te be tluid-pressure-actuated in another direction to Vary its eperation, and means for moving the valve in both .such directions said valve comprising means whereby when the valve is so moved in a direction other than that or' its normal motion, the operation et' said iluitl-pressnre-actuated valve-operating' means is varied.

ln a valve gear, the combination i'luid-pressurelactuated valve-operating controlling valve, a va,lve-chamber tating said valve, means tending' normally to move said valve longitudinally in such chamber, and means for admitting fluid under pressure to the chamber' to oppose such movement said valve comprisingl means whereby when the valve is so moved longitudinally, the operation et said fluid-pressare-actuated valve-operating means is varied.

4. In a valve gear, the combination with a plurality of fluid-pressare-actuated valveoperating means, ot' a rotary controlling valve, a valve-chamber therefor, means for rotating said valve` and means for admitting iluid under pressure to said chamber on opposite sides of said valve to move the valve longitudinally said valve 'comprising means whereby when the valve is so moved longitudinally, the operation of said iluid pressure actuated valve operating means is varied.

5. In a valve gear, the combination with a plurality oi luid-pressure-actuated valve-operating means, of a rotary controlling valve, a valve-chamber therefor, means for ro tating said valve, means for admitting fluid under pressure to said valve comprising means whereby when the valve is so moved longitudinally, the operation of said Huid-preswith a plurality of means, ot' a rotary therefor, means for rosure-actuated valve-operating means is varied, said chamber to move said valve longitudinally therein, and a loading device resistingl such movement. i

G. In a valve gear, the combination with a plurality et fluid-pressnre-actuated valve-operating means, of a controlling valve therefor adapted normally to be moved in one direction but adapted also to be moved in another direction for varying' the action of the valve gear, said Valve having ports which open and close ports of such valve-operating means in proper sequence during the normal motion of said valve, and having also poi'ts which are brought into registry with ports of said valve-actuating means by movement oi the controlling; valve in such second direction, and {luid-pressure means for so moving' said valve.

7. In a valve gear, the combination with a plurality o1 iluidpressureacliuated valve-operating means, or' a rotary controlling valve, a valve chamber therefor, means for rotating said valve. and fluid-pressure means for moving said valve longitudinally in its chamber, said valve having ports which open and close ports of such valve-operating means in proper sequence during the normal rotation ot' the valve, and having ports which are brought into communication with ports oi said valve-operating means by longitudinal motion oi the valve.

8. In a valve gear, the combination with a plurality of fluid-pressure-actuated valve-operating means, oi a rotary controlling valve, a valve chamber therefor, means for 1'0- tating said valve, means for admitting [luid under pressure from different sources to opposite ends of said chamber to move the valve longitudinally, said valve having ports which open and close ports of said valve-actuating means during rotary and during longitudinal motion of said valve.

9. In' a valve gear for compressors and the like, the combination with a plurality of fluid-pressare-actuated valveoperating means controlling admission and discharge valves for opposite ends of the compressor' cylinder, of a rotary controlling valve, a valve chamber therefor, means connecting one end of said chamber to opposite ends ot said cylinder and for admitting fluid at receiver pressure to the opposite end of said chamber, means for rotating said Valve. the latter having means foicutting ofi from the valve chamber that end of the cylinder in which compression is not taking place, and having also ports which open and close ports of said valve-actuating means during rotary and during longitudinal motion of said valve.

ln testimony whereol` I aiiix my ence oi two witnesses.

signature, in the pres- \VILLIAM H. COLLIER.

Witnesses OLIvnn BENTON, I. A. RAINEY. 

